Bihar: The New Government Needs To Work Tirelessly To Meet The People’s Aspirations

The results of the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections are out, and the new government – dubbed the ‘Grand Alliance’ has won the majority in the House. This article is not an analysis of voter trends or an opinion piece on why the NDA lost or how the Alliance scripted its victory. This article is about the current challenges that Bihar is plagued with and a reminder that the new government’s job has only just begun, and that it should not fail the trust of the Bihari people. These are by no means the only problems, but 5 of the major obstacles faced by Bihar.

1) Youth unemployment.
27% of the population of Bihar is between 15-30 years old. But half the youth population is employed in agriculture and low-paying jobs. Furthermore, in spite of several development projects in the past decade, Bihar hosts less than 2% of the nation’s industries. The trend of industrial growth has been steadily increasing in the past few years. The State government needs to hasten this growth and expand Bihar’s industrial sector – particularly the agricultural sector. This will curb unemployment and increase GDP per capita.

2) Electricity deficit.
Data shows that less than 26% of rural Bihari households are electrified – a very serious problem. Bihar has a power deficit problem which it needs to address by allocating proportionate budgetary funds to ensure that every Bihari house and factory enjoys regular electricity.

3) The crime rate.
Bihar accounts for 10% of violent crimes in India. The number of crimes since 2012 has increased – mainly because the number of reported cases has increased, which is an appreciable trend. But having notoriety for being a ‘jungle raj’, Bihar still has a long way to go. This will involve modernizing police equipment, ensuring better law enforcement, ensuring women’s safety, expanding policing efficiency and outreach, and curbing corruption in the police, private and public sectors.

4) Illiteracy.
Bihar has a literacy rate of 64% – the lowest among all Indian states. The rural literacy rate of the state is 54% while the urban literacy rate is 82%. The 1960s saw several ambitious educational plans by the state government, but poor implementation. In the past decade though, drop-out rates have plummeted and literacy has increased, though there remains a serious mismatch between demand and supply. Also, Bihar has the worst teacher absence rate in India – about 37%. The new government must increase efforts to educate Bihari children, while at the same time balancing the gender gap in education (and birth). Clearly, there is a lot of room for development and obviously a state can develop only when it invests extensively in education. This will involve both building new schools and improving on the existing educational institutions.

5) Infrastructure.
Shockingly, 98% of rural households in Bihar lack access to toilets. Now that’s an abhorrent number. Bihar has less than 5% of India’s state highways. While urbanization is gradually increasing, it is increasing in a haphazard manner. The new government must make Bihar’s infrastructure modern and efficient. This will involve reviewing tax laws, cutting red tape, attracting foreign and private investment, connecting Bihar’s towns and cities and funding various projects.

Bihar faces several challenges, many of them similar to those faced by other Indian states. But due to its demographics and political make-up, Bihar will have to improvise better ways of tackling these problems. It has come a long way from being one of the BIMAROU states to boasting double-digit growth rates.

Bihar needs to sustain this development and grow its economy by building its urban regions, modernizing rural-based sectors like agriculture, expand its industrial sector while at the same time maintaining peace and communal harmony between its diverse communities. This can happen by various ways – mainly by attracting more foreign investment, and procuring more national investment too. The new government needs to let go of petty politics, refrain from exploiting caste and religious divides and work hard to improve the lives of every single Bihari.

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This Mother’s Day, Let Us Make A Real Difference In Our Mother’s Life

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

Mothers play a crucial role in our lives. Since we were little, they held our hands, acting as our guide into the world. They took care of all our needs – from teaching us how to hold a spoon, cooking delicious meals for us, dropping us to school and sitting with us while we struggled with our math homework – mothers have been there through thick and thin.

On the special occasion of Mother’s Day, Friends Adult Diapers has a beautiful message for each of us – treat your mother the way she has treated you all her life.

It was our mothers who stayed up all night taking care of us when we fell sick; it was her who help us with our homework. This Mother’s Day, remember to take care and support your mother the way she took care of you all these years.

The minds and bodies of our ageing parents dwindle as they grow even older, and somewhere in the incoherence of understanding their thoughts, children lose patience. They spend less and less time with their parents and hire others to look after them. A study by HelpAge India gives accounts of the elderly, most of whom testify to verbal abuse, neglect and disrespect by their children. Old people rely on their children for both emotional and financial support but, often times are not given the needed care.

There is little difference in how we were as toddlers and how parents are as senior citizens. They couldn’t understand the gibber we uttered then, yet taught us different languages. We were financially dependent on them till at least 18 years of age yet, they never said no to giving us pocket money. Why cannot we echo the same patience our parents showed for so many years?

Our parents have an unconditional love for us. They made sure all our needs are cared for and we never feel alone. When we grow up and our parents enter old age, they require the same care and affection. They would be delighted if we spent time with them after classes or work, make tea or cook for them and also help them with household chores when they have too many things at hand.

It is our responsibility to stand with our parents when they are weak; it is our responsibility to cook for them when they are too tired, and it is our responsibility to take care of them when they fall sick.

Mother’s Day is a celebration in honour of motherhood, a tribute to maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. Let us make a real difference by showing how much we truly care for our mothers.

Friends Adult Diapers has taken a wonderful initiative in this regard. The most precious gift for a mother is her child. So why not take this as an opportunity to shower her with the same love? After all, she deserves it for being with you through every obstacle and every hardship that you faced.